Collection Policies

Collection Access & Use Policy

Access to specimens is open to qualified visitors, researchers, and students. Interested parties are requested to obtain authorization by contacting the Curator or Curatorial Associate.

Ernst Mayr Grants support short visits to museums for collection based research. For guidelines see the MCZ grants and funding pages.

Collection Use

All users of the collection are requested to fill out a pink specimen withdrawal card, and deposit this card in place of each specimen removed from a storage cabinet. When the specimen is returned, the card should be removed and destroyed. All users of the collection are requested to fill out a pink specimen withdrawal card, and deposit this card in place of each specimen removed from a storage cabinet. When the specimen is returned, the card should be removed and destroyed.

In-House Use

No formal loan form is required for use of specimens within the MCZ, provided that permission is secured and withdrawal cards are deposited in place of the specimen.

Preparation

Researchers should contact the MCZ curatorial staff for approval before undertaking preparation. If thin-sectioned specimens are prepared on glass or by other techniques, the sections should be clearly labeled with complete information from the original specimen. Types should not be electrocoated for SEM examination if such coating may impair other types of study.

Molding & Casting

May be undertaken with the approval of the curatorial staff.